Introduction The American Revolution was the war between the Americans and the French against the British for their land and independence. The French and Indian War was the war for American soil between the Colonies of Britain and New France. The French and Indian war impacted the British and the Colonies in terms of global connections, governance, civic ideals and practices, and economics; all of which are four factors of the Revolution Governance English officials assumed that the Parliament must have ultimate authority and power over all laws and taxes, but the Colonists need to reserve colonial authority for their own legislatures.
Also the Americans were outraged that men thousands of miles across the sea, whom they have not voted for, are making decisions for and representing them. They were also misrepresenting them in, voting in favor for several laws over the course of (1765-1773). Economic Connection After the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle was signed and the war was won, Britain’s success didn’t come free. For a massive victory, came a massive cost. Great Britain believed the American colonists should pay their own way.
But the Americans begged to differ. They believed that they put up such a fight that the british should pay. Colonists and The British Economic Connection pt. 2 When the American’s refused to pay their portion that the British believed they should, the British basically said if you won’t willingly pay then we’ll just raise taxes and make you pay anyway. They did this by increasing taxes on sugar (The Sugar act of 1764), and increasing taxes on stamps (The Stamp act of 1765). Civic Ideals and Practices
The Stamp act was later repealed in 1766, due to the Americans protesting in the streets, refused to buy stamps, and mobs took to violence to make stamp collectors resign. The Americans gained confidence from playing such a part in the French and Indian War, (AKA 7 years War), that they decided to defend themselves, and stand up to the “mother country”. Civic Ideals and Practices pt. 2 The British made it perfectly clear that they had no desire to compromise with the Colonists any longer and surely enough they were still plotting on ways to tax the colonies and the Declaratory Act of 1766 was going to aid them.
But the Colonists kept protesting relentlessly for their civic rights and liberties. Then there was Boston Tea Party; basically the unofficial declaration of the Revolution. The Boston Tea Party (1773) Civic Ideals and Practices pt. 3 The American Revolution was highly influenced by the philosopher John Locke. He believed that the power of a King comes from the people, and if a ruler invalidates the agreement of the social contract the people then have the right to resist and subvert him from office or the throne.
So when the British tried to impose unwanted taxes on the Colonists, they protested and decided they wanted independence. Civic Ideals and Practices pt. 4 Another Philosopher that influenced the Colonists in the American Revolution was Thomas Paine. After the French and Indian War, Paine was convinced that the political connection between America and Britain was unnatural and magnified our desire for freedom. He wrote books called “Common Sense” (1776), and “The Crisis” (1777), which both influenced the Revolution.
The Crisis” was motivational and gave troops the will to fight. The Battle of Bunker Hill 1775 June 17, 1775 The battle that our first president is famous for. George Washington was leading the Colonists during The Battle of Bunker Hill during the Siege of Boston. Global Connections It’s only logical to have allies in war when you’re facing such a massive force. The Americans and the French agreed that the enemy of thy enemy is an allie so France agreed to help the colonists take on the British. This balanced the naval power during the revolution.
Not to mention inheriting the urban fighting style and gaining the upperhand against the British’s classical, and very predictable fighting style. Global Connections pt. 2 Although the French money, ammunitions, soldiers, and naval forces were proved to be a vital element in the American’s victory, they gained little from the Revolution. The only things they acquired from this were: revenge, and new trading allies; while the Americans gained massive land and independence from the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
The debt they gain for the Revolution was a major cause of The French Revolution (1787-1799). Conclusion In conclusion, there were many factors that connected The French and Indian War and the American Revolution; four of which were governance, economics, global connections, and civic ideals and practices. Between the philosophers influencing the Colonies, the unwanted taxes angering the Colonists, the parliament trying to steal rights from the Colonists, and the French’s support, America’s destiny was to fight Britain.
